Comic-Con badges go on sale Saturday

Online sales of badges for this year's always sold-out Comic-Con will begin at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, organizers announced today.

Only those who went through an earlier online process to secure a member ID and received a confirmation e-mail can purchase entry into the convention, which will be held this year July 12-15. The annual pop culture extravaganza typically attracts more than 130,000 attendees, and last year, badges sold out within seven hours.

In emails sent out today, Comic-Con International notified everyone who registered for an ID when the sale will begin and provided the online link to use for purchasing single and four-day badges.

Four-day ticket prices for adults are $175, which includes the Wednesday preview night. A single-day badge is $40 for all but Sunday, which is priced at $23.

For those who received e-mail notifications, here's a word of caution from organizers:

"As a member of the Comic-Con Member ID preferred 'E-List', you are receiving first notification of the badge sales date/time and the exclusive link to registration. Although you are required to have a Member ID to purchase a badge, sharing the above link on a social networking site may decrease your chances of obtaining a badge

"Although only those with a Member ID will be allowed to purchase a badge, the EPIC waiting room is open to the general public and if the link above is leaked online, we anticipate that several thousand people who did not sign-up for a Member ID will attempt to access the registration system erroneously. Additionally, should you choose to share the date or link online, it is likely to be picked up by numerous media outlets who will share this information with a larger audience."

Recognizing the Con's overwhelming popularity, Comic-Con apologized in advance for not being able to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend.

"As you know because of limited space at the San Diego Convention Center we have had to cap attendance for the last few years," organizers said in their e-mail.

"We honestly wish we could accommodate each and every person who would like to attend the show, and while we are making strides to increase space by utilizing hotels and outdoor venues, the problem of attendance is one that all of us continue to work on constantly."

Hopeful that San Diego's convention center will be expanded in a few years, Comic-Con International agreed to remain at the center through 2015. The city is currently in the process of securing financing for a $520 million expansion, and in April, San Diego hoteliers will vote on a proposed hotel room tax of 1 percent to 3 percent to help fund the bulk of the project.